IN YOUR OPINION

Letters to the editor, May 9

Published: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 10:01 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 10:01 p.m.

Offended

Once again our community has been exposed to the enlightened words of the Hercules marquee located on Maricamp Road. For those of you who have not had the opportunity of observing, this week it reads: "I'm not a gynecologist but I'll take a look."

I am dumbfounded at the point of this statement? Better yet, I am appalled at what influences their deep and intellectual thoughts posted on their sign has on the young bright minds that pass that sign every day on their way to school. And yes, this is personal — I am having to explain many of these things to my 14-year-old son, amongst your other great slogans and political beliefs.

Don't take this letter out of context, I am all about freedom of speech. However, there is always one bad apple that spoils the whole bunch. Just saying.

Alyson Ferrer

Ocala

The people are the biggest losers

In reviewing your published list of winners and losers in this year's legislative session, I believe that the people of Florida are the biggest losers.

Although there was an increase in education and well-deserved raises for teachers and state employees, the Legislature did more harm than good.

They left at least 1 million poor adults without Medicaid coverage and did not accept $50 billion in free federal money for three years. This is morally indefensible. These poor and working adults are uninsured and will have to go to the ER be treated, and probably will have no follow-up care. The taxpayers will pay for this anyway. They seem to not see this obvious fact.

The insurance lobby prevented the lowering of auto registration fees. The folks who live paycheck to paycheck are hurt again. They can call the raise a few years ago a fee, I call it a tax. It hurts the ones who could least afford it, yet they still keep some silly sales tax exemptions for those who can afford it.

They cut the Internet cafés mostly because of a scandal involving the lieutenant governor. Why not regulate it and tax it?

There is more I could cite, but I would rather ask this question: Why are the people putting these legislators in office? Most of those in need tend not to vote and they should. Others are voting against their own interests. I feel like a lot of them are ill-informed. Others have different ideologies but how can they justify not caring about so many people not getting medical care?

If the Legislature is reflecting the will of the people, then I have no choice but to blame the people who put and keep them there.

I hope some responsible compassion and concern will prevail in future elections.

Lanny R. Schwartz

Ocala

Skin-color smokescreen

There have been many letters to the editor recently accusing conservatives of being racists and sexists. They claim that we don't like the president because he's black.

Get over it! We don't care what color the president's skin is. He could be green for all we care. The only thing we care about is his policies — policies that are slowly destroying our country. To be honest, the only color we care about is red, as in the red numbers of our massive debt, and the near trillion-dollar annual deficits that this administration accumulates. The national debt is up almost 60 percent since 2009, but per this president, we don't have a debt problem or a spending problem.

We're called racists, but when the left went after Herman Cain nothing was said, and God help Dr. Ben Carson if he decides to run in 2016. We're called sexist if we go after Hillary Clinton, but it was OK for the left to vilify Sara Palin and Ann Romney. Explain to me why we are called racist and sexist but the same rules don't apply to those on the left.

As it is, liberals are terrified of blacks and females, especially black females, or anyone for that matter with solid conservative principles. That said, it is time we start electing folks of any color or gender and from any party, folks more interested in attacking this country's problems then supporting the agenda of their own political party.

Dennis P. Birdsall

Rainbow Springs

Train wreck

In 1968, the New York Central (NYC) and Pennsylvania (PRR) railroads merged, creating the Penn Central. It quickly went bankrupt. Major causes were labor unions and tiered management, wherein a PRR employee with a problem would bypass the next tier (NYC) and find a fellow PRR employee. As a result, nothing got done.

Today, the Penn Central syndrome is evidenced throughout our government. The Department of Homeland Security, part of the U.S. Department of Redundancy Department, is a prime example of ineffective, swollen and tiered management.

Time was, Customs handled "things" coming into the country, Border Patrol handled "people" and the Immigration and Naturalization Service mishandled everything.

Now we have ICE, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and CBP, Customs and Border Protection — prime examples of a long list of acronyms that simply don't get along. The CIA doesn't talk to the FBI. The FBI doesn't talk to anyone. The well-meaning men and women of these agencies are reporting to a "Penn Central" management, where careers preclude results.

Defense, Justice, State and Homeland Security, with weak and ill-prepared leaders, are reporting to a White House unable to get on track.

How can you avoid a train wreck when the engineer is smoking a joint, the brakeman is off negotiating his union contract and the EPA will not allow the fireman to shovel coal?

Hank Davis

Ocala

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